|
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 18:53 |
|
There may be some tables opening up on Cheapside, and we're not talking about the restaurant. 
Business owners along that block are asking the city to permanently shutdown the tiny road that separates their businesses from a popular green space downtown.
Ryan Feheley manages Cheapside Bar and Grill. He says by shutting down that road, it would open up the opportunity for his restaurant and others to add outdoor seating and café style tables on the street. "It also opens it up for more areas to have outdoor events such as the Thursday Night Live" Feheley said.
For the past year or so, the area on the other side of Cheapside, the Old Courthouse Park area, has been a popular lunch spot for those in the downtown area, and business owners want to incorporate that area with their businesses. "It's right in the epicenter of downtown" said Bluegrass Tavern manager Mike Terry.
Charlie Boland, the Mayor's Senior Administrative Officer, says it's not likely the city would permanently shut down Cheapside, however they are considering a trial-run, by shutting down the street during the warm weather seasons, such as April 15th through November 1st. According to a letter to Mayor Newberry, the Downtown Lexington Corporation and the Downtown Development Authority are both supportive of the idea. Part of their support behind it goes along with the desire to have more outdoor community gathering sites before the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Shutting down Cheapside would mean the loss of the handful of metered parking spaces right outside the businesses, however they tell Action News 36 it's something they are willing to sacrifice. "I bet business owners on this block would pay the lost revenue from those parking spots" Mike Terry said.
If the Urban County Government does decide to do a trial-run, you could see the street shut down as early as late August or early September.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed